Fig. 2.
Empagliflozin improves myocardial microcirculation perfusion by increasing microvessel density and reducing vascular remodeling. A. Representative MCE images were taken using a constant infusion of microbubbles at 20 mL/min. The signal intensity was determined by capturing a 10-s high-energy sequence at a frame rate of 30 Hz;.B. A quantitative analysis of perfusion was performed using Research-Arena software (Tomtech, Germany). A: plateau intensity, β: flow velocity. Myocardial blood flow (A × β) profiles in the basal septum for different groups (n = 6/group); C–D. Frozen cardiac sections were incubated with CD31 antibody to assess microvascular numbers by performing fluorescence microscopy; E. Microvascular image detection via ink staining; F–G. Immunohistochemistry of p-eNOS (Ser1177) expression; H–I. Endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent relaxation responses were assessed by applying Ach (10−9–10−5 M) or SNP (10−10–10−6 M). J. Histological analysis of vascular fibrosis with Masson's staining; K–L. TEM was performed to observe changes in the vascular basement membrane. Diabetes induced hyperplasia of the vascular basement, which was reversed by empagliflozin. Mean ± SD, *P < 0.05 vs. Control (Cont) group; #P < 0.05 vs. Diabetic group.